Today’s Friday Feature Author Interview is with Rachel Skatvold, author of the Riley Family Legacy novella series. Thank you, Rachel for allowing me to interview you and sharing your experiences with my readers.
What made you decide on novella length for your series?
Beauty Within started as an online novella for my blog. I posted a chapter a week as a way for readers to get a taste of my writing style while I worked on my first full length novel. A novella was a good length to work with because the chapters were short, fun, and worked in well with my schedule.
About halfway through the first novella, I fell in love with the characters and realized they had more to say than could fit into one novella. My first readers loved the book as well, so I decided to publish the first book and two more, telling the stories of three young women from the Riley family.
What makes a book a novella and not a novel?
That’s a great question. A novella is usually between 15,000 to around 40,000 words and is meant to be read in one sitting or a few days. They are growing more popular in eBook form because of the shorter chapter length. A novel is usually between 50,000 words to 100,000 or sometimes longer.
What factors did you weigh before deciding to indie publish?
I did a lot of research, using resources from the library and Internet. I also turned to other indie authors for advice. After praying over the options and settling on indie publishing, my husband and I worked together to set up a budget and look for e-publishing and printing options.
Did you hire anyone to help with the details such as cover design (they’re great, btw) and laying out the interior of the book?
The covers of my books were designed by my friend, Jenny Weber from Weber Creative Arts. After sending her my ideas we communicated back and forth through email. She did an excellent job capturing my vision for the projects. Then I used a Word template from Createspace that made laying out the interior fairly easy. I looked at the formatting in several other fiction books for a reference as well.
Overall what kind of experience did you have with the actual mechanics (the cover design and interior layout) of the book?
Overall I had a good experience. The cover design was completed ahead of time and uploaded to Createspace without any problems. The interior turned out to be a little challenging because of some limitations with Word. For example, I was unable to use the font I had chosen for the chapter headings because the words were cropped when saving the document as a PDF file. However, I worked around the obstacles and everything turned out well in the end.
What’s been the most difficult thing about indie publishing?
The most difficult thing has been marketing on a small budget. However, in the months following the release of my first book, I found some websites and social media groups that allow free advertising. One great thing about indie publishing is that I can go at my own pace, so I am learning new ways to market as I go.
Websites and social media groups that allow free advertising—that’s a real help. Could you name a few, as I’m sure my readers will be interested in that.
On Facebook, Christian Fiction Readers and Christian Indie Books are groups that allow members to post sale links for their books. Also, one website I’ve found helpful is Sweetly Clean Romances. This site features only clean romances and offers free excerpts, promotional Saturdays and Facebook takeovers.
A Facebook takover. That’s a new term for me. What is it?
A Facebook takeover is a party where authors can sign up for hour slots to talk about their books, have giveaways and get to know readers. I didn’t know about them until last year but they are fun and a great way to connect with new readers. 🙂
What advice would you give someone considering the indie publishing route?
I think the best advice I could give is to do your homework beforehand, keep an organized calendar, and be prepared for unexpected delays that might pop up before the release day arrives. Book launches are fun but also stressful to organize, so give yourself more time than you think is needed to prepare.
Rachel, thank you so much for joining me today. The choice to indie publish or go the traditional route can be a tough decision to make, so I’m sure my readers will find this information very useful in their journey. God’s best with your series, and be sure to let me know when the third installment releases!
About Rachel Skatvold
Rachel Skatvold is an inspirational author and stay-at-home mom from the Midwest. She enjoys writing inspirational romance, devotions, and encouraging blogs. Rachel is currently working on the third installment of the Riley Family Legacy Novellas. Other than writing, some of her hobbies include singing, reading, and camping in the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons.
Connect with Rachel via her website: www.rachelskatvold.com
About her Books:
Beauty Within (Book 1): After her husband dies in a tragic accident, Katherine Arnold returns to her hometown in southern Kansas, hoping for a fresh start. She longs to reconnect with family and raise her two young children in peace. But instead, she must cope with an overbearing mother playing matchmaker and a troubled teen-aged sister for a roommate. As gossip about her family blazes through town like a wildfire, Katherine wonders if returning home was the right decision.
Ryan Hudson is running from dark shadows in his past. Hiding out in Brimsfield is torture for the young police officer who is used to an action filled life in the city. But for now, his only option is to stay put and hope his secret isn’t discovered.
After their first meeting ends with a parking ticket, Katherine believes Officer Hudson is determined to make her life miserable. However, after learning about his difficult past, she finds herself drawn to the handsome and mysterious stranger. Together, will this unlikely pair be able to move past their circumstances and discover the Beauty Within God’s plan?
Beauty Unveiled (Book 2): While Brimsfield is buzzing with excitement over Katherine’s upcoming marriage…
Sarah struggles to tame her restless heart. The small town she used to love seems like a lead weight around her ankle. With one semester of college remaining, she can see the finish line ahead, but will the thirst for excitement jeopardize her future?
Katherine wanted a simple wedding ceremony, but her mother’s extravagant plans for the big day override her wishes. Being forced to compromise is the least of her worries though. When an old friend returns to town, her relationship with the man she loves will be put to the test.
Distracted with wedding preparations, the Riley family is unprepared for the approaching storm that could change their lives forever. Will their legacy of faith survive the trials to come?
Thank you for featuring my interview on your blog last week, Debra. I’ve enjoyed it. 🙂
~Rachel Skatvold
Thanks for joining me. I enjoyed the interview and learned too!